GRB 970228 facts for kids
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| Right ascension | 05h 01m 46.7s |
| Declination | +11° 46′ 53.0″ |
| Epoch | J2000 |
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| Total energy output | 5.2×1044 J |
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GRB 970228 was a very important gamma-ray burst (GRB). A gamma-ray burst is a super-bright flash of high-energy light from space. This burst was seen on February 28, 1997. It was special because it was the first GRB where scientists also saw an "afterglow."
For a few years before this event, scientists thought that GRBs might have afterglows. An afterglow is a dimmer light that glows for a while after the main burst. But until GRB 970228, they had only seen the very bright, quick flashes of gamma rays.
The burst itself lasted about 80 seconds. It had several bright moments, which scientists call "peaks" in its light curve. The way its light changed was a bit unusual. This made scientists think that a supernova might have happened at the same time. GRB 970228 came from a galaxy about 8.1 billion light-years away from us. This distance helped scientists confirm that gamma-ray bursts happen far outside our own Milky Way galaxy.
What Caused It?
Scientists like Dr. Reichart studied GRB 970228 very closely. They found that the way its light changed could only be explained if a supernova happened. A supernova is a giant explosion that happens when a very large star dies.
Later on, more clear proof linking gamma-ray bursts and supernovae was found. This evidence came from studying other GRBs, like GRB 020813 and GRB 030329. However, the signs of a supernova usually appear weeks after the initial burst. This means that any early changes in brightness could also be from things like dust around the dying star.
Images for kids
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This picture shows what happens when a huge star explodes as a supernova. It then collapses into a black hole and shoots out a gamma-ray burst. Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller/NSF
See also
In Spanish: GRB 970228 para niños
